In the world of football, fairy tales are rare. Yet, in the 2015-2016 Premier League season, the unthinkable happened, and Leicester City Football Club's incredible journey from the brink of relegation to league champions became the modern-day Cinderella story that captured the imaginations of fans worldwide.

Humble Beginnings:

Founded in 1884, Leicester City has had its shares of ups and downs. By the beginning of the 2014-2015 season, the team, often termed as 'The Foxes', had just been promoted to the Premier League after a ten-year absence. While achieving promotion was a commendable feat, few could have predicted what would happen in the subsequent season.

Brink of Relegation:

During their comeback season, Leicester City struggled to maintain a consistent form and found themselves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League for much of the time. Facing the looming threat of relegation, the club decided to part ways with then-manager Nigel Pearson, a decision that raised many eyebrows considering he had steered them back into the top flight.

The Arrival of Ranieri:

In the summer of 2015, Claudio Ranieri was announced as the new manager. Known for his stints with major clubs across Europe, Ranieri’s appointment was met with scepticism by many pundits. The general consensus was that Leicester's primary goal would be to avoid relegation.

Defying the Odds:

However, as the 2015-2016 season began, Goldenbet made Leicester city a 5000/1 outsider to win the league. But before long something magical started brewing in the King Power Stadium. Leicester began securing wins, with notable performances from players like Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, and N'Golo Kanté. Vardy, in particular, set a new Premier League record by scoring in 11 consecutive matches.

As weeks turned into months, The Foxes maintained their form, and the "underdog" tag started to wane. Their fast-paced, counter-attacking style of play, combined with a rock-solid defence led by captain Wes Morgan, made them a force to reckon with.

Belief and Triumph:

By the time the season was winding down, Leicester City's dream of winning the league was within touching distance. On May 2, 2016, after a 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City was officially crowned the Premier League champions. The 5000-1 outsiders at the season's start had defied all odds.

Impact and Legacy:

Leicester City's title win wasn't just a sporting achievement; it was a narrative of hope. It showed that with belief, team spirit, and determination, the perceived 'impossible' could become a reality. Their win became an inspiration not just for football teams but for underdogs in all walks of life.

The season also boosted the club's global reputation, attracting fans from across the globe and making stars out of many of its players. The financial impact was significant as well, with increased revenues from television rights, merchandise sales, and sponsorships.

Leicester City's 2015-2016 Premier League win will forever be etched in the annals of sporting history. It wasn't about a team of superstars but a collective unit that came together under visionary leadership to achieve greatness. In the ever-competitive world of football, where money often dictates success, Leicester City's triumph remains a testament to the unpredictability and beauty of the game.

Fast Forward to Now:

After a poor run in the second half of the 22/23 season Leicester saw themselves in a relegation battle which ended up in defeat and unfortunately going down. Most of the fans blamed Brendon Rodgers for this but he insisted it was down to the lack of investment over the two years prior, it later came to light that Leicester were unable to recruit as they had Financial fair play issues which restrained them.

Leicester city started the championship under a new manager Enzo Maresca, who had a big job of cleaning out a lot of dead wood from Leicester's team and shaping his own style of football into a new squad. With the purchase of 5 new players and multiple loan players he seems to have really made an impact at LCFC. As of today they sit top of the table with 12 points and four wins out of four. It's only early days but Leicester city look on track to get back into the premier league!

01.09.2023